The Seventh Princess Insists on Making Me Be a Kept Woman (GL) - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Does She Not Take Medicine Because It’s Bitter?

Lian Liejin suddenly thought of the line, “a different, deep, sorrowful resentment arises”

She was certainly resenting herself for having run her mouth and recited poetry to Gao Jingxi. She had lifted a rock to smash her own foot.

The carriage was warm and cozy. The specially reinforced wheels made the ride smoother, and the thick, plush cushions beneath them made it perfectly conducive to sleep.

Somehow, Gao Jingxi rested her head on a soft cushion and began to doze off. As the carriage swayed, the Seventh Princess completely slid into Lian Liejin’s arms.

A warm fragrance filled her senses; soft jade was in her embrace. Lian Liejin once again felt like she was on pins and needles.

Seeing this, A You quickly gestured for Lian Liejin to keep quiet. “Consort, Her Highness the Princess barely slept last night.”

Just as she was about to push Gao Jingxi away, Lian Liejin stopped upon hearing A You’s words. She adjusted her posture to let the woman sleep more comfortably.

She had already checked Gao Jingxi’s pulse. The woman had a very good constitution, but she was, after all, severely injured, with old wounds not yet healed and new ones added. Although Lian Liejin had used her Shadow Power to treat Gao Jingxi last time, alleviating the injuries.

However, the Princess’s condition of slow Stellar Energy circulation was not something that could be cured overnight.

Her current pulse was weak and thready. She should have been following a schedule with plenty of rest, but she still dared to stay up late practicing cultivation.

The two of them intended to let Gao Jingxi sleep longer and even instructed the coachman to drive slower. Who would have thought that after barely half an hour, someone outside the carriage would call out loudly: “Feng Zhi, son of the Minister of Rites, and Chen Yu, daughter of the Chancellor, pay their respects to Her Highness the Princess.”

Hearing their robust voices, Lian Liejin couldn’t help but feel annoyed. Can’t they just let people drive in peace? They would naturally meet once they arrived, but they had to perform rituals, make their presence known, and ensure they were remembered.

She should have insisted Gao Jingxi use a shabbier carriage, instead of parading through the city like this and attracting a swarm of flies.

Especially that Chen Yu. She had come to the Princess’s residence to deliver “gifts” last time. She was also overly attentive to Gao Jingxi at Tianyuan Residence.

To run into her again this time—she was truly a lingering ghost.

“Sister A You, let Her Highness sleep a little longer.” Lian Liejin’s tone was icy. She was about to tell A You to send the two away.

Unexpectedly, Gao Jingxi, who had been seemingly asleep with her eyes closed, slowly woke up. She gently tugged Lian Liejin’s sleeve and said in a delicate voice, “Consort, I’m fine.”

Lian Liejin looked down at the person in her arms. Gao Jingxi’s cheeks were slightly flushed, cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and her red lips were tightly pressed, subtly revealing clenched teeth.

Lian Liejin had carefully studied Gao Jingxi’s previous injury. The imperial physicians’ prescriptions aimed for no harm rather than any great merit, using only mild tonics. The injured Princess’s body was too weak for tonics, which made her weaker instead of stronger. The hidden internal injuries never truly healed.

Even after her own treatment, which helped significantly, recovery was still a slow and arduous process.

She knew this was the case by the subtle pain Gao Jingxi was clearly feeling now.

“A You, help me out.” Gao Jingxi calmly slipped out of Lian Liejin’s embrace. “Consort, please rest assured.”

A You supported Gao Jingxi, feeling the Princess’s body tremble, and her heart ached.

The carriage curtain was lifted. Gao Jingxi slowly stepped down, her phoenix eyes slightly lifted, smiling with nobility and grace. “Greetings to both scholars.”

A cold wind blew into the carriage, making even Lian Liejin shiver.

Upon seeing Gao Jingxi’s face, Chen Yu became even more excited and incoherent, taking a while to reply: “Your Highness, the Moon-Viewing Pavilion not far away has just received some new calligraphy and paintings from famous masters this morning. Feng and I were planning to enjoy them before the Poetry Conference starts. We unexpectedly ran into Your Highness on the way, and we boldly invite you to join us.”

“That’s right, Your Highness,” Feng Zhi—the son of the Minister of Rites who had awkwardly tried to answer the First Prince’s question at the banquet—chimed in. He had a simple, honest appearance, wrapped in his clothes like a tangyuan dumpling. “I hear there is a new painting by the famous artist Wu Zuozi. Eldest Miss Lian and Young Master Chen have already gone.”

“In that case, I should certainly go and feast my eyes,” Gao Jingxi gave the two an approving smile, then turned to A You. “A You, it’s still early. Let’s go to the Moon-Viewing Pavilion to admire the art. As for the Consort…”

“Your Highness, your humble servant will naturally go with you.”

Chen Yu’s face immediately showed displeasure upon hearing Lian Liejin’s voice, but she quickly lowered her head to conceal it. Seeing Gao Jingxi turn and re-enter the carriage, she and Feng Zhi had no choice but to follow the carriage to the Moon-Viewing Pavilion.

After turning a few corners, the group alighted from the carriage.

In front of the Moon-Viewing Pavilion, Lian Liejin stopped Gao Jingxi. She took off her hooded cloak, intending to place it over Gao Jingxi.

“Consort, you don’t need to treat Her Highness the Princess like such a treasure. Feng and I would never neglect the Princess.” Chen Yu felt completely uneasy seeing this gigolo, Lian Liejin. He had noble birth, managed to marry the goddess of the entire Changyong City, and was now jumping out to be an eyesore!

Feng Zhi thoroughly disliked this legitimate daughter of the Ducal House who had only recently returned, especially because of the great loss of face he suffered at the last banquet. And this Consort had stolen the spotlight.

Therefore, he chimed in with a taunt: “The Consort is so meticulous! With the slippery road in the snowy weather, it would be most appropriate for the Princess to ride a horse, and the Consort to lead it.”

Leading a horse was a servant’s job. Feng Zhi’s words were utterly rude.

Lian Liejin didn’t even turn her head, focusing only on securely fastening the cloak’s buttons for Gao Jingxi. “If Her Highness is willing, your humble servant would naturally lead the horse for the Princess. However, the weather is cold, and how can the Princess’s precious health be compromised? Young Master Feng should be more cautious with his words and actions.”

“Heh-heh, the Consort has a good tongue!”

The cloak, warmed by Lian Liejin’s body temperature, was indeed very warm. Gao Jingxi felt much less cold and subconsciously looked up at Lian Liejin.

In the fine snow, this person’s originally cool and distant brows seemed to harbor a hint of affection. For a moment, Gao Jingxi stared blankly back at Lian Liejin. No one paid any attention to Feng Zhi or Chen Yu anymore.

The fine snow from earlier suddenly grew much heavier.

In the vast falling snow, the two gazed into each other’s eyes. Passersby and children, catching this glimpse, though unaware of their identities, sincerely sighed: A matchless couple, a union made in heaven.

Their public, unrestrained staring became a beautiful tale, even evidenced by a folk song: “Cold dew forms frost on the Weaver Star, smiling, she leads the Cowherd for her love.” Of course, this is a story for later.

A You quickly found a bamboo-ribbed umbrella from the carriage to shelter the two, which finally brought them back to their senses. Gao Jingxi slightly pursed her lips and grasped Lian Liejin’s hand. “Let’s go. We still need to rush to the Youlan Water Pavilion before lunch.”

Walking through a long corridor, the group finally entered the main hall of the Moon-Viewing Pavilion. Lian Liejin felt Gao Jingxi’s fingers were as cold as ice. “Your Highness, have you been taking your medicine on time?”

Because Gao Jingxi unnaturally turned her face away and pretended not to hear, Lian Liejin tentatively asked: “Your Highness, are you perhaps afraid the medicine is bitter?”

Still no response.

“Your Highness, there’s no need to be embarrassed. Many children your humble servant has treated are afraid of bitterness. So, I specially created a sugar-coated pill. Your portion has already been prepared, and someone will deliver it to the Princess’s residence today.”

“I am not a child.”

“Ah?” Lian Liejin was startled by Gao Jingxi’s gritted-teeth tone, and she looked confused. “Your humble servant knows that. We exchanged birth dates. But if you’re afraid of bitterness, isn’t it better for us to take sugar-coated pills together?”

“Your Highness, why have you and the Consort fallen so far behind? Wu Zuozi’s painting is on the third floor.”

Chen Yu, having appeared beside them at some point, looked at Gao Jingxi with a beaming smile.

A You timely stepped forward to support Gao Jingxi. “Miss Chen doesn’t need to worry. Her Highness the Princess is with the Consort.” She emphasized the word Consort, hoping Chen Yu would be sensible.

Chen Yu, however, completely disregarded A You’s words. She didn’t stop to think that A You wouldn’t dare speak this way if it wasn’t Gao Jingxi’s implicit intention.

“That’s wrong to say. Third Miss Lian has spent many years in the wilderness and the mountains. She may not have any understanding of an elegant art like painting. How can she possibly be in perfect harmony and of the same mind as Your Highness?”